Jus imponendi vectigana, or, The learning touching customs, tonnage, poundage, and impositions on merchandizes, asserted as well from the rules of the common and civil law, as of generall reason and policy of state / by Sir John Davis ...

CHAP. XIII.

Of the ancient Officers which our Kings have created by vertue of their Prerogatives, to search and over-see all sorts of Merchan∣dizes, and to collect the duties payable for the same.

AS our ancient Kings by vertue of their Prerogative without Parlia∣ment, have laid the Customes or Impo∣sitions before expressed, upon all sorts of Merchandizes exported and import∣ed; so by the same Prerogative have they ordained severall sorts of Officers to search and over-see those Merchan∣dizes on which they had laid those Im∣positions, namely the Gauger* 1.1 of Wines, a high Officer, is as ancient as the Im∣position of the Gauge it self before men∣tioned; the Alneger* 1.2 of the cloths which is more ancient than any Act of Parlia∣ment that makes mention of the cloths, for there is a Record of 14 Edw. 2.* 1.3 in Archivis turris which speaketh of the Alneger, the Packer of Woolls, the Gar∣bellor

of spices; besides, the Officer of the Customes, viz. the Customer Com∣troller and Searcher;* 1.4 all which Officers have ever taken Fees of Merthants, both Denizens and Aliens, not by grant of the Merchants or Act of Parliament, but by vertue of their severall Patents granted from the King.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gauger.
• * 1.2

  Alneger.
• * 1.3

  14 Ed.2.
• * 1.4

  Custo∣mer. Com∣troller. Searcher